pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border, dec 2002
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Caption: A Letter from a Chechen: The Exceeding circumstances compel me to address to You with request about participation in my fate and fate of my family. I Aslan Ashabov Usamovich 1964 births , native and inhabitant Chechenia ,chechen on nationalities , there was unlawfully slowed federal troops at the beginning initially april 2000 , when leaving from sowed~ Goyti and was kept in cellar unknown me building for 14 days. Ostensibly on suspicion in participation “illegal armed shaping” . Formally reason of my detention has followed - trauma of my left eye (I invalid 3 groups) , which I has got at fire nearby’ s houses where I live , at march 1996 at moment when I help its sick father to abandon fired house. However not turning no attention on my pressures and protests , for 14 days I cruelly beat and require signing “ Appearance with guilty “in which I must there was , on words of coroner , confess in participation in “gangs shaping” and report the __ ____ name of ]accomplices. Every Time after m1 next refusal of confession , me on head dress the bag ,conduct back into dirty cellar, wh~i~ group a soldier beat , Insult , and several times ( 3 times) conducting beforehand in deaf place force to dig itself grave under undeterminable insults and mockeries. Whereupon soldiers imitate the executing by a firing squad and amicably laugh at my reaction. On outflow 10 days not having obtained from me confessions , I have offerred to with relatives and familiar for the reason my ransom and have taken me on Urus-Martan cabin (post). There , after a certain waiting I has met familiar , through which has sent the requirements of coroner -“deliver two automatons and 5.000 $ (five thousands of dollars) “. In four days I have ransommed my relatives and friends , beforehand bathed automatons beside soldier of federal troopses. After my lucky liberation my family and relatives have persisted that I abandon the territory Chechenia and Russia in so far as since practice of stealing the peace inhabitants became the system in russian troops , herewith not infrequent event of repeated stealing and sale one and same person. Moreover, apply for treatment, after multiple beating I need and need hitherto , on territory R.F. insecure so , as russian authorities on all levels close the crimes of its army. On the grounds of abbve stated having deep basis to fear for its fate and for future my families , I ask Your participations in question of granting me sanctum on territory —~ - - ~of countries not falling into C.I.S.so , as C.LS. ~the zone of influence of Russia” remains on my strong beliefs “and political stability on posf soviet space not yet soon to be fixed. At present I being in Republic Georgia, in encampment of refugees in settle Duisi , using status of refugee. To sheatfish respectfully yours and hope to you Aslan Ashabov.
Credit: EDDY VAN WESSEL
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